Catapult game or toy



Feb. 7, 1939. G. N. NlcoT ET AL.

CATAPULT GAME OR TOY Filed Oct. l5, 1937 JNVENTORS; n JEM/ler;

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE CATAPULT GAME OR TOY Georges N. Nicot and John R. Miller, Palm Beach, Fla.

Application October 15, 1937, Serial No. 169,262

3 Claims.

Our invention relates to a game and toy apparatus and more particularly to a means for throwing a missile or the like, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a catapult device in which a projector lever is pivotally mounted upon a support and including means between the lever and its support permitting the lever to follow the trajectory of the missile for a limited extent, thereby effecting a longer propulsion of the missile than has been possible in devices of this character, and further to increase stability of the device.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means upon the base of the device for cushioning the ends of the lever, reducing shock.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention `will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of the device.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device in which an auxiliary driving lever is employed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail of a cushioning means.

Attention is first invited to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing wherein a base I0 is provided which preferably is of metal, although not necessarily so, adapted to rest upon the ground, floor or other supporting surface.

Intermediate the length of the base, a pair of suitably spaced uprights I I are secured by bolts 9, or other suitable means. Each of the uprights I I has formed therein an arcuate slot I2, the slots extending upwardly and forwardly in the direction in which the missile is to be projected.

A lever I3 is pivoted between the uprights II and includes oppositely disposed trunnions I4, a trunnion being positioned in respective slots I2. The trunnions I4 are positioned medially of the length of the lever, and at one end of the lever a cup I5 is secured to the upper face thereof, adapted to seat the missile. The other end of the lever has fixed thereto a cushion block I6.

At each end of the base member Ill a cushion block I1 is secured positioned so as to contact respective ends of the lever when the lever is rocked, as will be apparent as the description proceeds.

The lever I3 is preferably in the form of a semi-elliptical spring, although it may be found desirable to form the lever of substantially straight formation and having no flexing qualities.

Theoperation The operation will be readily understood from the following explanation, attention being directed to Figure 1, in which a ball I8 is shown seated in the cup I5, one end of the lever I3 being in raised position. A mallet I9 or other suitable device (see Fig. 2) is employed to strike the cushioned end I6 of the lever, causing the opposite end of the lever to swing upwardly, being guided in its movement due to cooperation between the trunnions I4 and slots I2. The ball I8 will be forcibly projected upwardly into the air when the trunnions I4 encounter the terminations of the slots and the lever engages the cush- 15 ion member I'I. It will be seen therefore that the lever I3 is free-acting for a limited distance of movement, relieving the base of sudden jolts which might, in some instances, cause upsetting of the device. 20

The above description applies to the toy form of the device, and in Figures 3 and 4 we have shown a construction employed in conjunction with a game in which the missile or ball is to be projected in a direction away from the player. 25

In Figure 3 there is shown a base Ill as before described, upon which two pair of spaced uprights II' are secured, the uprights being placed in tandem relation. One of the pairs of uprights pivotally support a driven spring lever I3 in a 30 manner as described in Figures 1 and 2. The other pair of uprights I I support a driving spring lever 2U, this latter support being detachable from the base, as will be explained hereinafter. One end of the driving spring 2Q is disposed be- 35 neath the end of the spring I3 immediately beneath the cup I5 containing the ball.

The slots I2 of the uprights I I are disposed in opposite directions permitting the necessary follow-through movement of the levers when motion is imparted thereto. The base I0 includes a cushion block II hingedly connected as at 2l, to the end thereof, in advance of the driven spring I3 and functions to cushion contact of the end of the lever in its downward movement. 'I'he cushion I1 may be swung to dotted line position shown in Figure 3, if desired.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when the outermost end of the lever 2l) is struck, the innermost end will be caused to move up- 50 wardly, simultaneously forcibly throwing the lever I3 upwardly and away from the player. The ball I8 will be projected accordingly, as soon as the lever I3 has reached the end of its movement through the slot I2. 55

This form of the device may be readily con- A verted to a toy, such as described in Figures 1 and 2 by merely detaching the support and driving spring member, and this may be accomplished by removing the bolts 22.

While we have shown and described a preferred construction of game apparatus and toy, this is by way of illustration only, and we consider as our own all such variations in structure as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:-

1. In a game apparatus, a base, paired uprightl f members xed thereto in tandem relation, each pair of upright members having an arcuate slot, a lever member positioned between each pair'of uprights, each lever having oppositely disposed trunnions, each trunnion being positioned in a respective slot, the end of one lever overlapping the end of the other lever, a cup member on the oppositely disposed trunnions, each trunnion being positioned in respective slots and adapted to travel the length thereof when one end of the lever is struck, a cup Washer on one end of the lever and a'cushion member on the other.

JOHN R. MILLER.

.GEORGES N. NICOT. 20 

